Thrashing thru the Passion
by The Hold Steady
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Aug 23, 2019
    60
    Thrashing Through the Passion is easily the band’s softest album to date. Where most Hold Steady albums fill the room with sound, there’s a lot of quiet and negative space on this album. While the band’s other albums wrap you up in an awkward hug of emotions and drag you through to a catharsis, this album is passive.
  2. DIY Magazine
    Aug 16, 2019
    60
    The Hold Steady are very much a band for their existing fans. There’s not anything here, whether the bar-room blues of ‘Blackout Sam’ or the jazz hands-aloft ’T-Shirt Tux’ that’s likely to win outsiders over.
  3. The Skinny
    Aug 13, 2019
    60
    Thrashing Thru the Passion is a good album of fine songs, great lyrics and passionate playing – but ending with the playing-at-being-The-Clash Confusion In the Marketplace, after various nods to Dexys, E Street Band, Van Morrison, The Replacements, Boomtown Rats and more, its staccato block chords might be one homage too many.
  5. No Ripcord
    Aug 12, 2019
    60
    Some good ol', serviceable rock ' roll always goes down easy, but with The Hold Steady, we know they're capable of so much more.
  6. Mojo
    Aug 6, 2019
    60
    A stopgap isn't quite what The Hold Steady need right now, but as a holding exercise it's hard to fault. [Sep 2019, p.89]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Q Magazine
    Aug 6, 2019
    40
    Their first LP in five years falls well short of greatness, reheating past ideas to the point of cliche. [Sep 2019, p.111]
    All this publication's reviews

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. lederniermot
    Aug 23, 2019
    9
    What is most surprising is that half of these songs are old, yet still function well in the context of the album. While Franz coming home isWhat is most surprising is that half of these songs are old, yet still function well in the context of the album. While Franz coming home is welcome and cool, Tad and Steve are all over these songs. It’s easily the best since Stay Positive, and is probably better than that.… Full Review »
  2. MusicGuyMack
    Sep 12, 2019
    6
    Probably about as close as you'll ever get to a half-committed Bruce Springsteen leading Manic Street Preachers in doing a collection of BornProbably about as close as you'll ever get to a half-committed Bruce Springsteen leading Manic Street Preachers in doing a collection of Born to Run B-side covers, the record is unfortunately nowhere near as deliriously entertaining as such a description might suggest. Competently made and performed overall, but the album seems to lack much of the passion promised in the title.

    Choice Cuts: "Denver Haircut", "Entitlement Crew"    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »